Switch extension attachment



Feb. 18, 1964 H, H. SANDER ETAL 3,121,778

SWITCH EXTENSION Amcmmur Filed Feb. 15. 1961 INVENTORS HOWARD H SANDER JERRY DANZQGEZR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,121,778 SWITCH EXTENSION ATTACHMENT Howard H. Sander, 9011 Los Arboles Ave. NE, and Jerry Danziger, 4201 Sunningdale Ave. NE, both of Albuquerque, N. Mex.

Filed Feb. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 89,448 4 Claims. or. 200-172) This invention relates to a device for actuating a toggle switch and more particularly to an extension device to facilitate the operation of a toggle switch as in the case of a child attempting to operate a wall type toggle light switch which is normally beyond its reach.

Light switches are normally located at a height that is above the reach of the average small child. In order to allow the operation of these switches by the children of the household, various types of extensions have been found to possess certain disadvantages which are overcome by the novel structure of this invention.

An outstanding advantage of the new device resides in the smooth, easy action possible because of the connection to the switch lever. In this device the actuator member is coupled to the switch lever so as to move in an are along with the normal arc of the switch lever. Also, the motion is imparted to the switch lever at a point further out from the fulcrum of the switch lever than the end of the switch lever thereby allowing a mechanical advantage to the operator of the switch.

Due to its arc motion in actuating the switch lever, the improved switch actuator of this invention also eliminates the additional pressure that must be exerted on the switch lever as in the devices of the prior art having the strictly up-down motion and therefore decreases the possibility of breakage of the switch lever due to the exertion of more pressure on the switch lever tip than it was designed to withstand.

Also, the possibility of breakage of the switch lever is further reduced or eliminated by virtue of the fact that the travel distance of the cap which moves the switch lever is limited by the ends of the slot in which the cap rides; and also, with the novel switch actuator of this invention it is possible to raise the handle of the extension leaving it at rest in this vertical position out of the reach of the children for as long as desired without disconnecting the actuator from the switch lever.

Furthermore, the novel construction of this invention allows the handle of the actuator to be swung in any direction due to its universal joint type of construction thereby reducing the possibility of accidental breakage through mishandling.

Also, the device of this invention is constructed in a manner that allows it to adjust to the slight differences in dimensions that may occur in wall switches made by different manufacturers.

These as well as further advantages which are inherent in the invention will become apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the switch extension of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partially broken away and shown in vertical section, of the switch extension attached to a wall switch;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the cap which fits over the wall switch lever;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the cap of FIG. 3 and a pin which is used with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of a modified form of the extension handle; and

FIG. 7 shows the attachment of the extension handle of FIG. 6 to the cap as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein is illustrated one embodiment of the invention, a cover plate 11 is attached to the wall switch by screws 12. The cover plate 11 illustrated has flanges 13 which allow it to fit completely over a wall plate 27 already in place, or flanged cover Plate 11 may be used to replace wall plate 27; but flanges 13 may be omitted if it is desired to have a cover plate that must rest directly on the existing wall plate. If existing Wall plate 27 is left in place, it is also held in position by screws 12.

Cover plate 11 has a raised are portion 14 having a slotted opening 15. A cap 16 fits over the end of switch lever 17 and rides on its flange 18 in slotted opening 15 of raised are portion 14 of cover plate 11. Arced portion 14 has a curvature which allows cap 16 to traverse essentially the same are as the tip of switch lever 17 on the customary wall type switch.

FIGS. 3 and 4 further illustrate the construction of cap 16. The inner surface 21 forms a circular, tapered portion which takes into account the switch levers of the different manufacturers of switches differ in size to some small extent. Therefore, the tapered form allows cap 16 to fit over any of the various makes of wall switches found in the home and form a sung fit for smooth operation.

Extension handle 22 has yoke 23 on one end through which pin 24 is inserted. Cap 16 rides in yoke 23 with pin 24 inserted through channel 25 with the ends of pin 24 held in holes 26 of yoke 23-. Switch lever 17 with cap 16 and the extension handle 22 in the up position are shown in FIG. 2 with the alternate position shown in dashed outline.

FIG. 5 discloses another embodiment of the invention wherein cover plate 31 has a raised and slotted portion 32, for holding cap 16, in the shape of a section of a sphere instead of the arced rectangular section as depicted in FIG. 1. With the use of certain types of material and in the use of some method of manufacture this circular form may be found to be easier and less expensive to fabricate.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified form of the extension handle 33 with a yoke 34 having pins 35 cast in place. Yoke 34 is made so as to have a slight inward bend so that upon pins 35 being positioned in openings of channel 25 in cap 16, as shown in FIG. 7, a firm tension will be assured for pressing the pins 35 into cap 16.

Whether extension handles 22 or 3 3- are used with separate pin 24 or pins 35 integral with yoke 34, the combined action of the hinged yoke portion and the circular tapered inside surface 21 of cap 16, which allows the cap 16 to rotate on switch lever 17, results in a uni versal joint action allowing the extension handle to be swung in any direction without breaking. Also, the extenson handle may be swung up, as shown in dotted form in FIG. 7, when it is desired to position it temporarily out of the reach of small children.

It should be further noted that adjustment is automatically made to insure smoothness of fit and operation, since flange 18 of cap 16 is flexible to some degree whether made of plastic or a thin metal and rides along slot 15 of the rectangular arced or the spherical portion of cover plates 11 or 31, respectively. The flange 18, being flexible, can ride with varying degrees of tension so as to automatically adjust for slight diflerences in dimensions that may occur in wall switches made by different manufacturers, and for switches or switch boxes that have been recessed to a greater or lesser degree into the wall plaster. Thus, cap 16 is always maintained tightly against switch lever 17.

The lower ends of extension handles 22 and 23, shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, respectively, may either be ornamental or in some form enabling easy gripping by a child.

The switch extensions of this invention are of a type allowing easy installation without any marring of appearance or extensive change in the light switch presently in place, and it later removed no disfigurement of the original switch or wall plate will have taken place.

Additional embodiments of the invention in this specification will occur to others and therefore it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the appended claims and not by the embodiments described hereinabove.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment control connected to the lever on a toggle switch comprising a cover plate,

a raised are section on said cover plate having an arcing surface with a slot therein,

a cap fitting onto the lever on the toggle switch having a flange on its outer surface with the outside diameter of said flange greater than the width of the slot in the raised are section riding in the slotted opening of said are section,

and an extension handle attached to said circular cap whereby movement of said extension handle actuates the lever on the toggle switch.

2. The attachment control of claim 1 further characterized by said raised are section being substantially in the shape of a segment of a sphere.

3. The attachment control of claim 1 further characterized by said flange being flexible thereby permitting automatic adjustment to differences in switch lever dimensions.

4. An attachment control connected to the lever on a toggle switch comprising a cover plate,

a raised are section on said cover plate having an arcing surface with a slot therein,

a circular cap with a circular, tapered inside surface fitting onto the lever on the toggle switch and having a flange on its outer surface with the outside diameter of said flange greater than the width of the slot in the raised are section riding in the slotted opening of said are section,

and an extension handle attached to said circular cap whereby movement of said extension handle actuates the lever on the toggle switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,719,898 Allen Oct. 4, 1955 2,724,032 Coletta Nov. 15, 1955 2,726,303 Berndsen Dec. 16, 1955 

1. AN ATTACHMENT CONTROL CONNECTED TO THE LEVER ON A TOGGLE SWITCH COMPRISING A COVER PLATE, A RAISED ARC SECTION ON SAID COVER PLATE HAVING AN ARCING SURFACE WITH A SLOT THEREIN, A CAP FITTING ONTO THE LEVER ON THE TOGGLE SWITCH HAVING A FLANGE ON ITS OUTER SURFACE WITH THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID FLANGE GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE SLOT IN THE RAISED ARC SECTION RIDING IN THE SLOTTED OPENING OF SAID ARC SECTION, AND AN EXTENSION HANDLE ATTACHED TO SAID CIRCULAR CAP WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID EXTENSION HANDLE ACTUATES THE LEVER ON THE TOGGLE SWITCH. 